Apparatus for marking articles



Dec.- 7, 1937. H. KERSHAW APPARATUS FOR MARKING ARTICLES Filed Jun 24,1936 I 4 Sheets-Sheet l 2 I 4 4 5 11W w? Hen 3/ [Gems/1am D86. 7, 1937.H, K R 2,101,219"

APPARATUS FOR MARKING ARTICLES Fil ed June 24, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2Henry Dec. 7, 1937. H. KERSHAW APPARATUS FOR MARKING ARTICLES Filed June24, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 v He nry Kezskw 45% I (J/Noam;

' Dec. 7, 1937. H. KERSHAW APPARATUS FOR MARKING ARTICLES Filed June 24,1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Henry Ker-5km W Patented Dec. 7, 1937 I H I V DUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,101,219 I APPARATUS FOR MARKING ARTICLESHenry Kershaw, Newark, N. J.

Application June 24,1936, Serial No. 87,069

11 Claims. 101-40) My invention relates to apparatus for mark- Figure isa vertical section taken on line 5- ing articles. of Figure 2,

An important object of the invention is to Figure 6 is an end elevation,Da s Omitted.

, provide apparatus for marking rotatable articles of a modified form ofapparatus embodying the 5 so that the marking is efiected quickly,accurateinvention, 1' ly, and without liability of the .marking being Fur is a p a v pa ts r k n away. of smeared. the first form of theinvention,

A further object of the invention is to provide Figure 8 is a transversesection taken on line means for rotatably supporting an article and 8-8of Figure 'I, the printing pad being shifted 1 bodily shifting the samewhile in contact with a to .the lowered position,

relatively stationary marking element, whereby Figure 9 is alongitudinal section through the the article is turned and its surfacehas rolling printing pad, in the lowered position, showing engagementwith the marking element. the tube rolling beneath the same,

A further object of the invention is to provide Figure 10 is a sideelevation of a modified form means for rotatably supporting the articlesso of apparatus embodying the invention, 16 that the marked portionthereof will not be en- Figure 11 is a transverse section taken on linegaged or smeared before drying. |l--ll of Figure 10,

A further object of the invention is to provide Figure 12 is adiagrammatic view showing the means for supporting and advancing theelepainted lines applied to the glasses, and,

ments to be marked, and so constructed and ar- Figure 13 is a centralvertical section through 20 ranged that the elements will gravitate tothe the air heating device, parts in elevation. proper position thereon.Attention being called first to Figures 1 to 9,

A further object of the invention is to provide inclusive, the numerall0 designates an elonapparatus of the above mentioned character, gatedhorizontal table top, mounted upon legs which is continuous in operationand which has II, and these legs are connected by feet l2. The 25 unitsdesigned to handle two tubes or articles, table top I0 is provided witha panel guidein the marking of the same. ways or grooves l3, as shown.

A further object of the invention is to provide At the ends of the tabletop I0, the legs llv are simple and reliable means for supplying the inkprovided with bearings i4, receiving transverse to the printing element.shafts l5, provided at their ends with bevel- 30 A further object of theinvention is to provide gears l6, rigidly secured thereto, and engagingmeans for branding the mark or design upon the bevel-gears IT. Thebevel-gears H are rigidly rotatable element. secured to the .ends ofhorizontal longitudinal A further object of the invention is to provideshafts l8, journalled in stationary bearings l9, means for applyingmarks or designs upon a rocarried by arms 20, rigidly attached to thetable 35 tatable vitreous element, formed of glass, porcetop l0, asshown.

lain or the like, with means to heat the element Rigidly mounted uponthe transverse shafts l5 thus marked to bake or burn the applied markare pairs of sprocket wheels 2|, engaged by or design therein. sprocketchains, 22, the upper runs of which 40 Other objects and advantages ofthe invention travel within the longitudinal guide-ways i3. 40 will beapparent during the course of the follow- These sprocket chainspreferably embody rollers ing description. 23, and these rollers travelupon the bottomof In the accompanying drawings forming a part heguide-ways relieving excessive friction.- of this application and inwhich like numerals although any other Suitable means may be are used toillustrate like parts throughout the Ployed for this purpose-The-Sprocket chajins are 45 same included in an endless conveyor, as isobvious.

Figure 1 is an end elevation of a machine em Mounted 9 9 endless or i tchains, at equi-distantly spaced points longitudibody.ng my invention,

Fi re 2 is a side elevation of d f th nally thereof, are carriages 24for rotatably supt b k one en 0 e porting the articles to be marked,such as radio 50 par S to en away; tubes 25, so that these articles arebodily shifted Figure 3 is a side elevation of the machine, and arecapable of turning upon their1ongitudi Darts broken away, nal axes. Eachcarriage comprises a base 21,

Figur 4 is an exploded Perspective V ew O the horizontally arranged andextending transversely printing pad and associated elements, of thesprocket chains 22. Pairs of couplings 28 are rigidly attached to eachbase 21 and are as long as the width of the base 21, and the verticalwebs of these couplings operate within the guide ways I3, upon oppositesides of the sprocket chains 22, and are pivotally connected with thesprocket chains by the pintles of the sprocket chains, as is obvious.Vertical up-rights 29 are rigidly mounted on the base 21, and extendupwardly beyond the same for a substantial distance and have angularlydisposed ends 30, disposed opposite and in alignment with angularlydisposed ends 3|, formed upon the base 21. A pair of rotatablesupporting shafts 32 are arranged between each pair of angularlydisposed ends 30 and 3|, and are journalled therein. These shafts arespaced and carry rollers 33. The rollers 33 are provided to compensatefor the radial dimension of the flange 25' of the radio tube, the flange25 engaging the shafts 32. Further, the rollers 33 on each supportingshaft 32 are spaced, and the body of the tube 25 is spaced from thesupporting shafts. That portion of the body of the tube 25 which ismarked, travels between the spaced rollers 33 and hence is held out ofcontact with supporting shafts 32, so that the markings cannot becomesmeared while wet. Particular attention is called to the fact that eachpair of supporting shafts 32 is arranged transversely of the endlesscarrier and is vertically inclined, extending downwardly toward theangularly disposed end 3|. The end 3| is provided with a screw-threadedopening, for receiving an adjustable stop, in the form of a bolt 34,having a lock nut 35. This bolt is arranged to engage the end of thetube, and limit its downward movement. From the foregoing description,it is thus seen that a duplex arrangement is provided for receiving apair of tubes 25, and the tubes are supported at an angle or inclinationso that they automatically gravitate to the lower-most position, whichis the correct position for marking. This is important; as it assuresthat the tubes will be held in the correct longitudinal position, at theinstant of marking. The tubes are thus rotatably supported at aninclination, and are free to turn upon their longitudinal axes. When thetubes turn on their longitudinal axes, the supporting shafts 32 turn. Inaddition to this turning movement, the tubes travel bodily with theendless conveyor and carriage.

Printing devices 36 are arranged adjacent the opposite longitudinaledges of the table top I, to act upon the tubes 25 in each pair, whenadvanced adjacent to the same. Each printing device comprises a head 31,having a recess for receiving a block 38, held therein, and this blockcarries a rubber pad 39, having raised characters or designs 40, such asletters, numerals, or any other desired design. A swinging support isprovided for the head, comprising a pair of arms 4|, which are angularlyadjustably connected with arms 42, by means of clamping screws 43. Thearms 42 are rigidly secured to the head 31. The arms 4| are in turnrigidly secured to a sleeve 44, and this sleeve is pivotally connectedwith stationary bearings 45, by means of'a pin 46, extending through thesleeve and bearings. Rigidly connected with the sleeve 46, andpreferably formed integral therewith, is a crank 41, and this crank haspivotal connection at 48, with a link 49, pivoted at 50, with a lever5|. This lever is pivoted at 52 with a, stationary bracket 53, as shown.Connected with the lever 5|, at a point between its ends, is a roller54, and this roller operates within an operating cam groove 55,

formed in the face of a cam wheel 56, rigidly mounted upon thelongitudinal shaft Hi. It might be stated at this point that the head 31and its printing pad are shifted to the lowermost position, before thetube or article to be printed reaches the printing position, and thetube is advanced under and in contact with the raised characters of theprinting pad, then in the lowermost position. The result is that therotatable tube is travelling bodily with the endless carrier while theprinting pad is held stationary with respect to the longitudinal travelof the carrier, andthe engagement of the rotatable element 25 with theraised characters of the printing pad causes the rotatable element toturn upon its longitudinal axes and therefore properly presents itssurfaces for contact with the printing raised characters of the pad. Thepad remains in the v lowermost position until the tube has passed frombeneath the same and the printing operation has been completed, the head31 and the pad being then shifted to the uppermost position so that theraised characters of the printing pad are inked, as will be described.

Means are provided to ink the raised characters of the printing pad,comprising inking rollers 51, which are vertically disposed androtatably mounted upon a carriage 58. The carriage 58 reciprocates in ahorizontal direction and is provided with a dove-tailed extension 59,slidable in a horizontal dove-tailed groove 60, formed in a horizontalarm 6|, rigidly secured to a vertical arm 62, in turn rigidly attachedto the table top In. The carriage 58 is reciprocated by means of a pin63, secured thereto, and operating within an elongated horizontal slot64, formed in the horizontal arm 6|. The pin 63 engages within theforked end 65 of a vertically swinging lever 66, pivoted at 61, and thelower end of this lever carries a roller 68, engaging in a cam groove69, formed upon a cam wheel 10, which is rigidly mounted upon thelongitudinal shaft I8. The numeral 1| designates an inking disk, whichis vertically arranged and spaced from the vertical arm 62, and isrotatable, and is supported by a stub shaft 12, in turn mounted within abearing 13, carried by the vertical arm 62. The inking'rollers 51 travelabove the supporting shaft 12 of the inking disk. The inking disk 1| isprovided with spaced lugs 14, upon its rear side, and these lugs areadapted to be engaged by trips 15, carried by the angularly disposedends 3|. The arrangement is such that the inking disk is intermittentlyturned, and the parts .are so timed in operation that the inking disk isstationary while the inking rollers are passing over the inking disk.The parts are also so timed that when the head'31 is shifted to theuppermost position, the inking rollers 51 will be engaging the inkingdisk 1|, and the inking rollers 51 will then be shifted across theinking pad to ink the raised letters or characters, in a direction fromthe inking disk, and then for a second time across the printing pad toink the raised characters, and then returned to the inking disk,subsequently to which the head 31 is shifted to the lowermost position.As clearly adjusting screw 83, having swivelled connection therewith andscrew-threaded engagement with the vertical arm 62. The outer end of thetube 11 is closed by a removable head 84, having screw-threadedengagement therewith, and this head carries a gland 85, receiving apiston rod 86, having a head or button 81. The piston rod 86 isconnected with a piston 88, moved inwardly by a compressible coil spring89. Upon its upper portion, the tube 11 has a screw-- that the flamefrom a gas burner I82 may be threaded tubular nipple 98, leading intothe tube and adapted for screw-threaded engagement witl the reduced end9| of an ink holding tube 82, which is collapsible. When it is desiredto ink the inking disk, the tube 82 may be squeezed or collapsed inwhole or in part, while the piston rod 88 is retracted, and after theink 'is thus fed into the tube 11, the piston is released so that thespring moves forwardly and forces-the ink out through the elongated slot11'.

In Figure 6, I have shown a modified form of the invention, wherein theprinting devices are dispensed with and branding devices 93 substitutedtherefor. Each branding device comprises a stationary arm or bracket 84,which is arranged in the position which would be occupied by theswinging arm of the printing head 31. This arm has an angularly disposedend 95 to which are rigidly secured rods 96 carrying a head 81, having arecess 98, receiving a metal block 99, provided with raised printing orbranding characters I88. The head 91 has an opening It, so

projected upon the block 99. This burner is preferably carried by theend 95. All other parts remain identical.

It might be stated at thispoint that 1 contemplate using the brandingdevice as a substitute for the printing device, and I also contemplateusing the branding device with the printing device, in which event, thedevices will be properly arranged to act upon the articles insuccession.

In Figure 10, I have shown a further modified form of apparatus forplacing designs or characters upon vitreous articles made of glass,porcelain, or the like. This apparatus is similar to the first form ofapparatus, shown in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, and embodies a pluralityof the printing devices 36 arranged'to act upon each article insuccession. If it is desired to apply rings of ceramic paint. ofdifierent colors to a drinking glass, as an example, each printing padwould have a raised straight rib 36' and the several straight ribs wouldbe arranged out of alignment witheach other so that the painted rings31' would be produced upon the glasses. Afterthe printing of the ringsupon the article has been completed, the article from each side of themachine passes beneath a drying tube are turned during the heatingprocess by contacting with a stationary plate I8l. beneath which theytravel. Heated air issupplied to each dryapertured tube II8, which issurrounded. by the coil 186.

The operation of the first form of the appa: ratus, as shown in Figures1 to 9, inclusive, is as follows:

The operator stands at the intake end of the endless carrier, which isthe left end of the machine in Figure 3, and feeds a pair of tubes 25,or other articles, to each carriage, as the carriage reaches the take-upposition. By virtue of the .inclinat'ion of the supporting shafts orelements 32, these tubes automatically gravitate into the .lowermost orcorrect position for printing. As each tube reaches or approaches theprinting position, the'head and printing pad is in the lowermostposition, and the tube passes under the fiat face of the printing padand contacts withthe raised ing tube I83 from a pipe I85, which leads tothe endless carrier and the contact of the tube with r the raisedcharacters of the printing pad causes the tube to turn upon itslongitudinal axes, while travelling beneath the printing pad, thuspresenting its curved surface in proper contact with the raisedcharacters. The method of printing is thus that of bodily moving thetube 25 and causing the same to turn upon its longitudinal axis and thushave rolling contact with the raised characters or letters- After thetube is passed beyond and out of contact with the raised characters ofthe printing pad, the head 31 is shifted to the uppermost position, andthe inking rollers 51 pass from the inking disk H and travel across theprinting pad in contact with the raised characters and back' across theprinting pad in contact with the raised characters, and then intoengagement with the inking disk. Subsequently to this, the head 31 isagain shifted to the lowermost position.

The printed tubes or articles travel to the discharge end of the machineand will-be dried by the time such discharge end is reached. If desired,the printed articles may be dried by blow ing heated air thereon. Theprinted articles discharge from the discharge end of the machine and maybe-collected upon an inclined conveyor or the like. If it should happenthat the printing is.not entirely dry, the same is not apt to smear, asthe, flange of the tube 25 will retain the I printed matter spaced fromthe endlessconveyor. It-is thus seen that the entire printing operation,after the tubes are inserted into the machine, maybe effected withoutfurther handling of the same. l

The mode of operation of the modified form of apparatus, as shown inFigure 6, is quite similar to that described in connection with thefirst form of the invention. As each tube approaches the brandingdevice, its portion 25a will travel beneath the heated block 99 and haverolling engagement with the raised characters or letters I88,- the tubetravelling bodily with the endless carrierand turning thereon upon itslongitudinal axis, as explained in connection with the first form of theinvention.

In the operation of the apparatus shown in Figures 7 and 8, the severalprinting devices 36,

upon each side of the machine,-act upon the article, such as a drinkingglass, and produce a plurality of lines of different colors. Theseglasses travel beneath the raised ribs 01 the printing devices and haverotatable engagement therewith. When passing beyond the printingdevices, each glass continues to turn upon its longitudinal axis bytravelling beneath the track I04, so that the paint is dried or burnedinto the glass. It is obvious that this form of the invention is notrestricted to the printing of rings upon drinking glasses as the samemay be employed to print data upon milk bottles or like articles.

It is to be understood that forms oimyinvention herewith shown anddescribed are to be taken as preferred examples of the same and thatvarious changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention or thescope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a machine for marking rotatable articles, an endless carrierhaving a generally horizontal run, spaced transverse pairs of verticallyinclined holding devices mounted upon the endless carrier to assumepositions in the generally horizontal run, the vertically inclinedholding devicesextending downwardly toward the sides of the carrier,each vertically inclined holding device being adapted to support therotatable article in a vertically inclined position so' that it maygravitate to a selected lowered position, means to move the carrier sothat the articles upon the horizontal run are moved in succession tomarking positions, marking devices disposed at the marking positions.and arranged to be engaged by the travelling articles and therebycausing the articles to be turned and marked.

2. In a machine for marking rotatable articles, an endless carrierhaving a generally horizontal run, a plurality of spaced holding devicesmounted upon the endless carrier to assume positions in the generallyhorizontal run, each holding device being vertically inclined to supportthe rotatable article in a vertically inclined position so that thearticle may gravitate to a selected lowered position, means to limit thedownward movement of the vertically inclined article to define theselected lowered position, means to move the carrier so that thearticles upon the horizontal run are moved in succession to a markingposition, and a marking device disposed at the marking position to beengaged by the travelling article and thereby cause the article to beturned and marked.

3. In a machine for marking rotatable articles, an endless carrierhaving a generally horizontal run, mounted upon the endless carrier toassume positions in the generally horizontal run, each holding devicecomprising spaced vertically inclined rollers which are free to turnupon their axes, the rollers serving to support the rotatable articleand retain the same vertically inclined so that the article maygravitate to a selected lowered position, means to limit the downwardmovement of the vertically inclined article, means to move the carrierso that the articles upon the generally-horrzontal run are moved insuccession to a marking position, and a marking device disposed at themarking position and held agaihst movement in thedirection of travel ofthe run of the carrier and located to be engaged by the travellingarticle and thereby cause the travelling article to be turned andmarked.

4. In a'machine ior marklng rotatable articles.

a carriage, spaced vertically inclined rotatable a plurality. of spacedholding deviceselements mounted upon the carriage and adapted to receivethe article thereon for rotatably I supporting the same and to permit ofthe articles gravitating to a lowered position, means to limit thedownward movement of the article, means to move the carriage in asubstantially horizontal plane, a marking device, and means for holdingthe marking device against movement in the direction of movement of thecarriage and in a positionso that the article is brought into engagementwith the marking device and turned and marked.

5. In a machine for marking rotatable articles, a traveling support,spaced transverse pairs of vertically inclined holding devices mountedupon the traveling support, the vertically inclined holding devicesdiverging downwardly, the vertically inclined holding devices rotatablysupporting the articles so that they may gravitate to a loweredposition, means to move the traveling support so that the rotatablearticles are brought to a marking position, and marking devices arrangednear the marking position to engage with the rotatable articles upon theouter sides thereof remote from the vertically inclined holding devices.

6. In a machine for marking rotatable articles, a traveling support,spaced pairs of vertically inclined holding devices mounted upon thetraveling support for rotatably supporting the rotatable articles andpermitting the same to gravitate to a lowered position, means to movethe traveling support so that the rotatable articles are brought to amarking position, and marking devices arranged near the marking positionto engage and mark the articles.

7. In a machine for marking rotatable articles, a traveling support,spaced vertically inclined holding devices mounted upon the travelingsupport to rotatably support the articles and permit the same togravitate to a lowered position, means to move the traveling support sothat the rotatable articles are brought to a marking position, and amarking device arranged near the marking position to engage with therotatable articles and mark the same.

8 In a machine for marking rotatable articles, a traveling support, aplurality of vertically inclined holding devices mounted upon thetraveling support to rotatably support the articles and permit the sameto gravitate to a lowered position, means to move the traveling support,and means to mark the articles while they are moving with the holdingdevices and turning upon their axes with relation thereto.

9. In a machine for marking rotatable articles, a traveling support, aplurality of holding devices mounted thereon, each holding deviceincluding rollers having their axes of rotation vertically inclined, therollers having the rotatable article disposed above and upon them andbeing spaced for a distance less than the diameter of the rotatablearticle so that they will hold the rotatable article against lateral.displacement and prevent the article from passing between them, therollerspermitting the article to gravitate to a lowered position, meansto move the traveling support, and means to mark the articles whilemoving with the holding devices and turning upon their axes withrelation thereto.

10. In a machine for marking rotatable articles, a traveling support, apair of spaced shafts rotatably mounted upon the traveling support andhaving their axes of rotation vertically inclined, rollers mounted uponthe shafts and extending radially beyond the same and being spaced for adistance less than the diameter of the rotatable article arranged aboveand supported thereon, and means to mark the article while beingsupported by the rollers.

11. In a machine for marking rotatable articles, an endless carrier,means for supporting the carrier including transverse shafts, holdingdevices mounted -upon the carrier and serving to 'rotatably support thearticles, a shaft extending longitudinally of the endless carrier and.geared with one transverse shaft, a vertically swinging marking devicearranged near the endless carrier, a cam mounted upon the longitudinalshaft, means driven by the cam to move the marking device, areciprocatory carriage, an inking roll mounted upon the carriage toengage the marking device, a pivoted lever to move the carriage,

a cam'mounted upon the longitudinal shaft, and

means operated by the last named cam to move the lever.

HENRY KERSHAW.

